Chan stressed that the application for election petition must continue as it is of substantial public interest and directly affects Hongkongers’ right to stand for election enshrined in the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s “mini-constitution”. The Lunar New Year Market stall, according to Chan, was a way for the Party to raise fund for the legal fees involved.

Jason Chow Ho-fai, spokesperson of HKNP, bid the stall under his own name on 8/Nov and received a call from FEHD at 3pm on 17/Jan asking for a meeting at 5pm. Given the short notice, HKNP could not arrange a representative to meet with the FEHD. The termination letter was then sent to HKNP claiming that Chow’s close relationship with HKNP, a party that supports Hong Kong independence, will attract people opposing them to protest at Victoria Park and affect public order and safety.

Chan said that FEHD’s decision is not grounded as many political parties with a spectrum of political views have been, year after year, permitted to host their stalls and no violent incident or major conflict had ever been caused. He described the FEHD’s decision is an example of the HKSAR government suppressing “those who it is not pleased with”, which shows that the business environment in Hong Kong is under political suppression.

At least one local Hong Kong publication reported that HKNP’s members were “too busy to meet with the FEHD”, leading the public to believe that the Party’s tenancy being terminated was a direct result of the Party’s failure to comply with procedures.)